under the microscope

Model organisms are not static.

“In 2006, researchers at the University of Alberta tried to replicate a 1993 mouse study. But they found that the stress levels of their mice, when put through an anxiety-producing maze, differed from the original data. They attributed this discrepancy […]

under the microscope

Common food dye turns live mice transparent.

This sounds like science fiction, but I think it’s not. “In an effort to enhance the research abilities of biologists, Stanford University researchers have discovered that applying a popular food coloring to the skin of mice allowed them to see […]

under the microscope

Memories are made by breaking DNA and fixing it.

What a breakthrough! This builds on the researcher’s 2021 finding that linked DNA breaks with learning. “When a long-term memory forms, some brain cells experience a rush of electrical activity so strong that it snaps their DNA. Then, an inflammatory […]

under the microscope

Epigenetic edits to cut cholesterol.

“Scientists achieved this effect by changing each animal’s ‘epigenome’, one feature of which is a collection of chemical tags that are bound to DNA and affect gene activity. After the treatment, activity of the targeted gene dropped and remained low […]

under the microscope

Epigenetic editing.

So much potential! “An alternative to genome editing can reduce the activity of a gene that affects cholesterol levels without changing the DNA sequence — and does so for an extended period, according to a study in mice.” ~ learn more